The Art of Ni no Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom

Visual feast Cast your eyes over a plethora of concept art from the latest instalment of the popular gaming series

Not familiar with the roleplaying game Ni no Kuni? Then you’ll be none the wiser by the time you’re finished looking through the art that’s presented here.

The series, developed by Level-5, has won praise for its game and designs over the years, which makes it all the more frustrating that we don’t get nary a sentence from the creative team in this full-colour art book.

With Studio Ghibli character designer Yoshiyuki Momose involved in the game’s look and feel, the absence of insight feels even more like a missed opportunity. However, what we do get are 16 chapters of beautifully developed traditional and digital artwork.

Covering everything from dumpling spoons and brooches through to dragons and epic cities, fans of the game are spoilt with a wealth of imagery that touches on everything they could possibly be interested in.

And really that’s who this book is aimed at: fans. Fans who won’t need explanatory notes detailing characters they’re already familiar with, fans who know the world and are ready for some behind-the-scenes visuals. But even then, those new to the game will find plenty to be mesmerised by.

Detail from end-of-level boss Brineskimmer. The book only contains concept art – there are no screenshots of the final designs in action.

The chapter on Hydropolis covers both its varied architecture and the citizens of the city.